Older volunteers; boomers and shadow boomers

1. There are close to 15 million older adults in Canada: more than 5 million seniors age 65 and over and close to 10 million baby boomers (45 – 64 years old). Together, they make up 43% of the population.
 2. Baby boomers and senior adults contributed more than 1 billion volunteer hours in 2010. Older adults have a lower volunteer rate than younger age-groups; however, they contribute, on average, more hours per year. This is likely due to health and mobility issues that increase with age, while availability tends to increase with age, due to fewer work and family responsibilities.
 3. Among those 45 to 64 years of age and those age 65 to 75 years of age, females tend to volunteer more and to contribute more average hours per year than males. However, over the age of 75, males were more likely to volunteer than females and males also volunteered more average hours per year.
 4. Baby boomers tend to volunteer to supervise events, serve on boards and committees, or participate in fund raising, while seniors are more likely to volunteer to provide support to individuals through counselling and giving advice and to provide support to health care services. Adults age 45 and over tend to volunteer within sports and recreation, social services, education and research and religious non-profit organizations. Involvement with education and research drops quickly with advancing age, while seniors' contribution to other types of organizations remains relatively stable.
 5. Baby boomers tend to seek meaningful volunteer activities and have consistently high rates of volunteering. They are loyal volunteers who have time and flexible schedules, making them highly valued as volunteers; however, they also have high expectations for their volunteer experiences at organizations. In addition to a desire to contribute to the community, seniors are motivated to meet new people and volunteer with friends, whereas baby boomers are more often motivated to use or develop skills.
 6. Volunteering provides health benefits to older adults. It offers them significant physical, emotional and cognitive or brain health benefits. It also enhances social support, social inclusion and civic engagement.
 7. Senior adults may experience challenges and barriers to volunteering related to transportation and scheduling issues and out-of-pocket expenses.
 8. Boomers, *shadow boomers and seniors will increasingly be interested in having a strong voice in political and social issues. Programs to educate and support individuals in citizen advocacy and civic participation will become increasingly important.
 9. Volunteers bring both social and economic benefits to non-profit organizations through their volunteer work.
 10. Key strategies for engaging older adults include those that promote well-being during times of transition, such as retirement planning and condo volunteering, as well as strategies that promote personal development and learning, such as skills-based volunteering, voluntourism and citizen science.
 11. Public policy and programs aimed at promoting volunteering among older adults and strengthening the capacity of organizations to involve older adults within
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Volunteering and Older Adults: Final Report - Volunteer Canada

According to William H. Frey of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the esteemed Brookings Institution, there are actually two sub-groups of baby boomers—“young seniors” ages 45 to 54 and the “shadow boomers” who are ages 55-64. The term "shadow boomer" actually refers to the younger people, those born between '57 and '64, who were not of age during the Viet Nam war or during the sixties.

The Great British class calculator: Class warfare

A Meals on Wheels crew!

Many who came to the 'New World' wanted to leave the old order.
The old world is still working on the old order, but sociologists are redefining it. To my mind, it is not so important that we categorize or label, but much more important to have:

'something to do, someone to love, something to hope for.'

Also, for those to whom much has been given, much is required. We live in an area with many happy retirees, with either pensions or capital. There are many seniors in their golden year who would be the 'technical middle class', but they give back to their communities. Some are in the new sandwich generation, where there are 70-somethings caring for 90-somethings.

Alan (left) delivers a meal to Willard,
with Mayor Fenyk (right) helping!

Many are taking care of neighbours whose family are far away. Many of the Meals on Wheels crews are delivering meals to younger clients! There is no apathy around here!

The findings have been published in the Sociology Journal and presented at a conference of the British Sociological Association.

The new classes are defined as:

• Elite - the most privileged group in the UK, distinct from the other six classes through its wealth. This group has the highest levels of all three capitals

• Established middle class - the second wealthiest, scoring highly on all three capitals. The largest and most gregarious group, scoring second highest for cultural capital

• Technical middle class - a small, distinctive new class group which is prosperous but scores low for social and cultural capital. Distinguished by its social isolation and cultural apathy

• New affluent workers - a young class group which is socially and culturally active, with middling levels of

  

  Keith Metcalfe (left) a WW II paratrooper,
  who delivered Meals on Wheels in Bala.

  economic capital

• Traditional working class - scores low on all forms of capital, but is not completely deprived. Its members have reasonably high house values, explained by this group having the oldest average age at 66

• Emergent service workers - a new, young, urban group which is relatively poor but has high social and cultural capital

• Precariat, or precarious proletariat - the poorest, most deprived class, scoring low for social and cultural capital

Slacktivism vs. making a difference

Slacktivism (sometimes slactivism or clicktivism) is a portmanteau formed out of the words slacker and activism. The word is usually considered a pejorative term that describes "feel-good" measures, in support of an issue or social cause, that have little or no practical effect other than to make the person doing it feel satisfaction. The acts tend to require minimal personal effort from the slacktivist.

Dancing to the music

'Walk for the cure', as if walking will do anything. Those who participate believe they are 'raising awareness'. As if no one has been aware of cancer before? They suck friends into donating.

"It is always with the best intentions that the worst work is done," observed Oscar Wilde.

Unfortunately, these fundraisers have high overhead costs, and much of the money goes into administration, rather than research.
I know where my time and energy goes: directly to a human being. There is so much to having direct services.
That is my preference, especially with the Pink Ribbon, Inc. machine that has hijacked the cancer cause. Even the Cancer Society has highjacked Jack Layton's death to promote their 'fight against cancer'. His loss is their gain. 


Not all my hospice clients see themselves as victims. They see themselves as people who need someone. And we get so much back from helping another person.




If you do not donate, click on the button, sign the petition, 'friends' feel you do not care. I'm tired of my 'friends' who are actually causes. People looking for press for their cause.
Then there are the discussions that range from bizarre to ignorant. Hijacking a cause for marketing purposes, or comments that are off-track, off-topic, or worse, selling something. Purported horror stories that convince us of a horrible wrong. There are three sides to everything: theirs, theirs, and the truth.

Then there are the ubiquitous Facebook groups:

I support Jack Layton in his fight against Cancer 

| Facebook

I support Jack Layton in his fight against Cancer - Showing our support for Jack Layton | Facebook.

Wii bowling

As if joining a group like this something will be done. The caregivers and care recipients are busy working hard.

We know how to change our lives to prevent some cancers: eat well, fresh foods, mostly plants; exercise, keep your weight down; reduce salt intake, but no one is immune. Marathon runners have heart attacks. We don't know why the body breaks down.

But it does.

Facebook mobilizes masses - but what for? - The Globe and Mail

7 Dec 2009 – It's called "slacktivism," and it runs rampant on social media. And for good reason. ... Because what drives slacktivism is mostly ego.

Slacktivism 

or activism on Facebook? - USATODAY.com

In fact, the title of this post -- "Slacktivism or Activism" -- is the title of a panel I'm sitting on this weekend at American University's Social Learning Summit. 

Slacktivism: Why Snopes got it Wrong About Internet Petitions 

...

Concert in long-term care

28 Apr 2010 – But aren't online petitions still just "slacktivism"? Let's look at ... Bottom line, the assumptions behind "slacktivism" are just plain wrong. 

CBC.ca | Day 6 | Sophie Kohn: Disliking 

Slacktivism

8 Oct 2010 – This ridiculous campaign is only the latest example of "slacktivism," and ... The problem with slacktivism is it makes people feel they've made a difference.

No Slacktivism Here - The Agenda - The Agenda Blogs - Steve Paikin

25 Jan 2010 – After all, "slacktivism" is all the rage these days, with many pundits looking skeptically at the "commitment" it takes to click your disapproval. 

Volunteering - what is your value?

I cannot believe how much volunteering is in the news! Not only that, but books, websites, people wanting to cash in on support volunteer organizations. I think with donor fatigue, and the recession, governments and non-profits are realizing how much they can make by depending upon volunteers.
There are those complaining that people ages 24 - 40 aren't doing their fair share, yet this is the age group when people are working very hard at raising families, working at Scout BINGO (just sayin'!), or taking kids to events.

People Don't Quit Volunteering Because they are Too Busy
>They Quit Because ...
The Top Seven Reasons Volunteers Quit
By Thomas W. McKee
McKee answers these questions:
What are your volunteers doing that is creative and exciting?
What changes are impacting your work with volunteers?

 Organizations Can Improve the Volunteer Experience By: 

• Building meaningful relationships – get to know volunteers’ unique needs & talents
• Developing integrated HR strategies – use similar approach for paid employees and volunteers 
•  Being flexible and accommodating – recognize volunteers’ other time commitments 
• Being sensitive to differences – respect volunteers’ gender, culture, language and age
• Capitalize on technology options -- provide more online volunteer opportunities 
•  Clearly outlining the purpose of the proposed volunteer activity and how it will help people, as well as follow up by letting volunteers know the impact of the time they contributed
• Telling volunteers what they need and when they need it, but not how to do it and what time to do it 

 What are the reasons that volunteer quit your organization?

# 7: No flexibility in volunteer opportunities or scheduling
# 6: Too much wasted time in useless or unproductive meetings
# 5: Lack of communication
# 4: Lack of professionalism
# 3: The feeling that the volunteer is not really making a difference
# 2: No feedback from leadership about how the volunteer is doing
# 1 reason: The volunteer leader who doesn't know how to lead


Tom and his son Jonathan are authors of the book,The New Breed: Understanding and Equipping the 21st Century Volunteer (Group Publishing)


Recruiting

• Taking Advantage of Three Growing Episodic Volunteering Trends: Slacktivism, Micro Volunteering and Crowdsourcing
• Oh, By the Way! The Four Words that Volunteers Hate to Hear
• The Seven Deadly Sins of Recruiting Volunteers
• Why People Volunteer: The Top Three Reasons People Volunteer

 VolunteerPower.com articles archive. Here you will find all kinds articles related to recruiting, motivating and training volunteers. 

• Training The New Breed of Volunteers: Who perhaps think that you can't teach them anything
• Creating a High-Commitment Culture: How to Tap Into the "What's In It For Me" Volunteer Motivation
• How to Unleash the Visionary Volunteer Without Destroying the Organization: What do you do with visionaries who are always thinking (and acting) outside the box?

 Rebecca Leaman writes: "volunteers will stay longer and work better for your non-profit organization if you can match their personalities and passions with appropriate tasks."
If you are currently a volunteer, here are some resources for you!

See: - 8 Quick Quizzes for New Volunteers - includes "a few of the many self-administered quizzes and questionnaires available on the Internet, designed to help prospective volunteers find opportunities to suit their personal work styles, skills, interests and goals."

 "6 Tips for Nonprofits About How to Reach Baby Boomers as They Turn 65," Joanne Fritz

Volunteer Canada resources, (such as this WorkBook) 
Baby Boomers - Your New Volunteers — our introductory workbook to rethinking your organization's approach to Baby Boomer volunteers.

According to the Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participation - Canada, 15-19 year olds have the highest volunteer rate (65%), but 47 to 75 year olds “contribute the greatest number of average annual volunteer hours.”

Oprah: What Kind of Volunteer Are You? 

We TV: What kind of Volunteer work should you do? 

Women's Day: What Kind of Volunteer are You? 

Volunteerism in Ontario

I am interested in the debate on *The Current of the demands the Ministry of Education makes on our high school students. They must 'volunteer' for 40 hours before they can graduate. [Policy/Program Memorandum No. 124a]

This is unfair for many kids: those who participate in high level sports, who have part-time jobs, those who have other priorities in their lives. This notion of volunteerism has spread to many sectors.Yet, the philosophy of the provincial government, is that many Transfer Payment Agencies, and other groups can only spend taxpayer dollars with volunteers who serve on Board of Directors.

I was in a meeting the other day. I am on the Board of Directors for FYCSM, and I am the Resource Committee chair. I also volunteer with Hospice Muskoka, I have one client I meet with weekly. I volunteer with Elke doing her Expressive Arts Therapy Bereavement classes for children. I teach creative writing at Beaver Creek. I blog about this.

During this meeting our ED was explaining that there are issues around training for Board members, especially those who work with Transfer Payment Agencies, like FYCSM. They are creating training opportunities, e.g., two-day events, and expecting Board members to attend with no compensation to them, their employers, and for those who are employed they must take a personal leave day from work, or make other arrangements.

You can imagine my anger with this expectation. I have served on enough Boards, been on a number of Boards, worked with Robert's Rules, and my time in precious to me.

What an insult to us as Board members.

The message from the Ministry is that Board members are not doing a good enough job, and we need training. Other EDs tell us that they simply ensure that they put retirees (like myself) in important positions in order for them to attend such propaganda meetings without cost to the Board or the TPA, or an employer. It is my belief that being on a Board of Directors one is elected, and is accountable. TPAs  and EDs should not be formulating Board representation, it is the Board as a whole and the electoral process that ensures we represent taxpayers. I am furious.
~~~~~~~~~~
*Compulsory Volunteering - If you force someone to volunteer, does it defeat the purpose? This is National Volunteer Week. And a large percentage of high school students have to do a certain amount of volunteer work before they can graduate. We look at how well that's working out.